Wireless INTERNET access while cruising

seagypsywoman

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I'm trying out a WLAN adapter (D-Link DWL-120+) on my laptop. It plugs into the USB port and has an antenna device that goes searching for signals (some free I'm told) to hook up to the internet. It's working great right now in Ayamonte, Spain with a router on top of a building only a quarter of a mile away and my searching antenna on top of the deck outside.
But since I got it I hear that I can do the same thing with a PCMCIA card which does not have a cord, it just plugs into my PC card slot and so it's not as bulky to carry around an airport etc. It's also chaper here in Spain. Has anyone had any experience with these? Which one is better?
Is it really possible to get access (free preferable) around the Mediterranean using one of these? Or can I get on a plan with my mobile phone (that's cheap) and then just get another SIM card when I get to a new country? What's the best thing to do? I'm new at all this.Thanks.
Barbara (seagypsywoman@yahoo.ca) /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 

BrendanS

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Two completely different technologies. What you currently have is for connecting to wireless networks. Some of these are free, and they can be extremely fast, nearly as fast as broadband in some cases. Advantages, very fast. Disadvantage, can only be used in a very few places, and close to the base station. You can buy these wireless adapters as usb or pcmia cards. There is very little difference between the usb and pcmia type except that the pcmia is better for laptops that will be on the move for the reason you state

SIM card mobile phone connection. These can be expensive for data and not very fast. Advantage, can be used almost anywhere on land, and while near to coast. Disadvantage, relatively slow and can be expensive. Can be pcmia card in the laptop or just connect the laptop to a mobile phone
 

fireball

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The USB adapter would be better as you can place it better and it has an external antenna. The PCMCIA ones are very good though and handy if your moving around with the laptop. If your in a relatively stationary possition then the USB one is fine.
There are more and more Wireless Hotspots being setup - some free, some pay-per-Mb/Hour. 802.11b/g connections start at 1Mb and go up to 108Mb (currently) depending on signal strength and router load. This would be my preferred connection where possible.

GPRS is a different technology and available most places you can get a phone signal. I have no knowledge of GPRS outside the UK so will leave that for others!

Don't forget - any connection to the internet will expose your machine to virus/trojan attacks so it is very important to setup at least a basic firewall and anti-virus software
 

npf1

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I'm about to try out a Senao 200mW PCMCIA card than can be linked to an external antenna. I've ordered a 15dB antenna for on the boat and a 5dB rubber duck antenna to use with the laptop. It's claimed that 8 miles line of sight will be possible with the 15dB antenna and more than 1 mile with the smaller one. This lot cost me abotu GBP80 for the lot.
 

wetandwindy

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Just a few late night musings:

I've recently got a PCMCIA card for my laptop so that I can access/use the internet/emails for my business whilst I'm out and about around the UK, as I spend a few days away from my office each week. It isn't particularly cheapcosting £125 initially plus £20+vat/month for 75Mb/month, but that's business! (There are cheaper packages available).

This is meant to be "3G", i.e. nearly broadband speed. However, what the brochures etc don't tell you is that the 3G coverage is appalling and the majority of the time it is on "GPRS", which is painfully slow (like "dial up" connections). I'm therefore paying for a service that I can seldom, in reality, use properly. Don't know what it'll be like for cruising if it's so bad ashore here, or is that just the UK? It should be alright as long as you don't spend hours "surfing" and send/receive text only emails; you also get the facility to send and receive text messages which are quite cheap and easier to type on a fullsize keyboard rather than a mobile phone!

Just a word of warning then, from my bitter experience, to do your research well into the areas that you will be visiting and to make sure that what you buy actually suits the proposed usage so that you don't waste your hard earneds!
 
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and the majority of the time it is on "GPRS", which is painfully slow (like "dial up" connections). I'm therefore paying for a service that I can seldom, in reality, use properly.

[/ QUOTE ]I have GPRS (via bluetooth to the laptop) which I use when I can't get WiFi. As you say, it is expensive. I always turn off images and music in the browser (Tools>Internet Options>Advanced if you are on a PC). Then you just right-click to download those images you want. Makes a VAST difference to speed and cost.

David
 

fireball

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nfp1 - I'm interested to hear how you get on with this card ... I've setup quite a few wireless networks now and range is always one of the limiting factors...
Don't forget though - you may get 8miles line of sight transmission - but will the base station be able to get back to you?


Antivirus protection - very important - www.grisoft.com do free antivirus software, it may/may not be as good as the paid for counterparts such as Norton and McAffee ... AV software should protect you against trojans too, but don't forget to keep the virus definitions up to date!
 

Trevethan

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I'd disagree that the cards are as cgood as the USB plug in, unnless the pcmcia card has a fetachable aerial.

We are having a devil of job hookingup at Limehouse. the card is utterly useless. The usb in the pilothouse workks a little better.

We are trying to connect to a router about 200 yard away!

All the best

Nick
 
A

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I think distance is your problem rather than the hardware at your end.....I wouldn't give any hope of wlan connections at that range.

[/ QUOTE ]For WiFi, I have an 18dB yagi pointed at the Hot Spot and communicate over half a mile or more. I should be able to manage several miles provided there are not any masts, etc, it the way. We have broadband 24/24 - we are liveaboards.
 

oldharry

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[ QUOTE ]
Thanks, so it sounds like the PCMCIA is just as good at picking up signals as the WLAN USB adapter?

[/ QUOTE ]

In theory yes, in practice no. A WLAN PMCIA card is basically the same as a USB WLAN add on, but with different connectivity. However the PMCIA card usually only has a small internal aerial, while the USB adapter will usually have a much more powerful one, which substantially affects the effective range. You get the same effect when you extend the aerial of your portable radio.

In my home WLAN set up the PCs have USB adapters, which give 100% signal strength anywhere in the house. The Laptop with its PMCIA card gives poor signal strength unless it is in the same room as the router. At the far end of the house with a several of walls in the way, it only needs someone to walk past to drop the connection! No such problems with USB, except there is another 'bit of wire' hanging out of the Laptop. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 

BrendanS

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Must be the setup you are using.

PCMIA card in the laptop on the network I'm currently on, is in a v old house with very thick walls. The laptop is downstairs using a PCMIA card, and is talking to a USB unit upstairs at other end of house, through several solid stone walls, that are each several feet thick. PCMIA cards work just fine

The same is true of my home wireless network. There is no drop out of pcmia card compared to usb
 

AndrewB

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[ QUOTE ]
We are having a devil of job hookingup at Limehouse. the card is utterly useless. The usb in the pilothouse workks a little better.

[/ QUOTE ]We had no problems picking up a signal in Limehouse while we were there over Christmas, even with a built-in WiFi from inside a steel yacht at the far end of the marina. So it does seem likely the problem is at your end. But I really objected to the cost, which worked out at over £7 per hour and no reconnection if you lost signal - an internet cafe not 5 minutes walk was £1 an hour.
 

Sea Devil

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................ a Senao 200mW PCMCIA card than can be linked to an external antenna. I've ordered a 15dB antenna for on the boat and a 5dB rubber duck antenna to use with the laptop.......................

Where did you get this? What is the difference with the boat and the rubber duck - do not quite understand why you need two???
 

rivalranger

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Remember not all Wifi PCMIA cards are equal. After reading several group tests in the computing mags I opted for a U.S.Robotics card because of its tested effective range. I have no problems connecting (at Limehouse) and when the marina network is down can usually pick up an alternative. Although this does mean moving from the nav station to the aft cabin....
 

seagypsywoman

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Thank you all, I'm running the antifirus program as we speak. Whew, what a relief it is to have one. Thank you AFrogley.
I will keep the WiFi with an extension cord to my USB port and the antenna up on deck. This way I get very good reception.
Now for some cheap or free places to hook up to once I leave Ayamonte...
 

npf1

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Bambola & A Frogley - I'll let you know how I get one. Expecting the kit to arrive next week. I bought in the US, $48 for the card, $10 for the small antenna and $68 for the large antenna. After postage etc it should end up being around £80. I bought new on eBay after doing a bit or research. Useful sites to look at are wardriving.com and radiolabs.com.

As you'll see from these sites, most laptop cards are 35mW and do not have a connection for an external antenna (although wardriving has links on how to modify several types of card). The smaller antenna is fits on to the laptop (it's about 5 inches high). I also went for the larger antenna to have a permanent fixed antenna on the boat - ideally I'd lke to put it on a mast but practicalities on runnign the cable rule this out for the time being. I'll see how good it is before deciding on a permanent home. I figured that for the price, it's worth experimenting. The Yagi antenna directional antenna that Lemain mentions appears to be the most popular thing to use according to wardriving.com. They can be easily homemade using an empty pringles tube apparently - again full instructions on the web. However, I prefer the idea of a proper marine antenna that's omnidirectional.

Hope that helps.
 
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